feetig



2 Sheets-Sh-et 1.

(No Model.)

0. S. FERTIG. PORTABLE RAILWAY SWITCH.

Patented 0ot.18, 1887.

INVENTOR 01 96% ATTORNEYS.

WITNES S. W

2 Sheets-Shedt 2.

(No Model.)

0. S. FERTIG.

PORTABLE RAILWAY SWITGH.

No. 371,748. Patented 001:. 18, 18:87.

INVENTOR:

MAM/11% WITNESSES: W @%%4/ ATTORNEYS.

OTTO S. FERTIG, OF'NEIN YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE RAILWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,74t8, dated October 18, 1887.

Application filed Juy 27. 1887. Serial No. 245,438. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTTO S. FERIIG, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Railway Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my improvement is toprovide a portable switch t'orstreet and other railways, whereby greater simplicity, effectiveness, and convenience in use are obtainable than usual.

I will first describe in detail a portable railway-switch embodying my improvement, and then point out the various features of the improvement in claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a port able railway-switch embodying the main features of my improvement. Fig. 2 is an end view of the said portable switch, the rails to which it is applied being in section. Fig. 3 is an inside view of one of the switch-blocks, the rail to which it is applied, and the switch-rail section leading therefrom. Fig.4: is an outside View of said switch-rail section when detached from the switch-block. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the switch-rail section on the line 00 m, Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a joint for couplingsections of the switch-rail. Fig. 7 is a crosssection of the said joint on theline y 3 Fig. 6.

The switch-blocks A, one of which is placed on each rail B of the two tracks to be connected by the switch, are preferably cast entire, and each is formed with a wide guarded cam-rai1, 0, adapted to rest upon the head of the main rail B, and having approaches inclined upward from and tapering off finely at either end, so that a car-wheel approaching in either direction on the rail B will be easily elevated to the top of the camrail. Vertical flanges D depend from either side of the camrail 0, and are adapted to closely embrace the head of the rail B, so as to hold the cam-rail from lateral displacement.

Lateral base'plates E project outward from the foot of the flanges D, are adapted to rest upon the base of the rail B, and are apertured to receive spikes F, which may be driven therethrough into the trackbed to hold the switchblock firmly in place.

The switch-rail sections G, which are to lead from each switch-block A to the head of the adjacent rail B, to form the complete switch, as clearly shown in Fig. l, are each pivoted to said switch-blocks by a pin, H, passed vertically through the switclrrail section and the corresponding base-plate E of the switch-block. Thus, when theswitch is not in usc,each switchrail section G can be folded upon its attached switch-b1ock, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that the entire switch can be compactly stored away in a car for use when required. V r

The body of each rail-section G is secured against displacement by spikes I, in the usual way, its curved hinged splice J being adapted to swing laterally into a recess, K, formed in the top of the cam-rail O, the recess K being in the head of the cam-rail in the case of the interior switch-blocks and in the guard-flange thereof in the case of the outer switch-blocks.

The curved splice J has on its rear enda downward extension, J, the depth of the body of the section G, and beveled on its inner face to bear evenly against the vertical flangeD of the switch-block when the splice J'is closed.

The extension J is formed with a lug, L, projecting from its end, which lug is received in a slot, M, extending from the end of the body of the section G, and is pivoted therein by the vertical pin H, by which the latter is pivoted to fold upon the switch-block.

A spring, M, secured to the side of the body of the switch-rail section G, bears'upon thelug L on the splice and tends to keep the same closed to cars going on the switch, but permits it to be opened by the wheel-flange of a car going in the opposite direction.

Where the distance between the tracks to be connected by the switch is excessive or storage-room is limited, two or more switchrail sections may be used between adjacent rails B, when a rail joint, as that shown in Figs. 6 and 7, is preferably employed.

In making thejointshown a dovetail tongue, 0, is formed centrally on the end of the base of one section, G, of therail, and a corresponding slot, 0, in the end of the base of the other I section, G, to hold the sections against lateral and longitudinal separation.

A button, P, is pivoted on the top of the rail-base of the section G at the side of the tread of the rail and is adapted to be swung over the corresponding side of the base of the other section, G, while a button, P, is pivoted in a recess in the under side of the base of the said section G at the opposite side of the tread of the rail and is adapted to be turned into a corresponding recess in the under side of the base of the section G. These buttons effectually prevent vertical separation of the rails, while the sections G G may be readily taken apart for storage, as before.

Having thus described my invention,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a portable railway-switch, the combination of a switch-block having an inclined recessed cam-rail, adapted to rest upon the head of the main rail, and a base-plate and a switch rail section pivoted to the switchblock and having ahinged splice adapted to swing in the recess of the cam-rail, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the body of a switch rail section and a rail-splice, of a slot in one, a lug on the other received in said slot, and a hinge-pin passed vertically through the lug and the walls of the slot, and a spring attached to the part having the slot and bearing upon the lug, substantially as described.

3. In a coupling for uniting two rail -sections of a portable switch, the combination of a dovetail tongue on one section, a dovetail slot in the other section, and buttons pivoted to opposite sides of the bases of either of the two sections and adapted to be turned over the corresponding part of the base of the other section, substantially as described.

OTTO S. FERTIG. 

